As if the War on Women were not bad enough already, Senator Glenn Grothman (R-Wisconsin) apparently introduced Senate Bill 507, which would declare single parenting child abuse.

Single parents supposedly make up a third of Wisconsin’s families. The U.S. Census Bureau stated that in 2009 there were approximately 13.5 million single parents in the U.S., with single mothers outnumbering single fathers five to one.

Section 1. 48.982 (2) (g) 2. of the statutes is amended to read: 48.982 (2) (g) 2. Promote statewide educational and public awareness campaigns and materials for the purpose of developing public awareness of the problems of child abuse and neglect. In promoting those campaigns and materials, the board shall emphasize nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect.

Section 2. 48.982 (2) (g) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
48.982 (2) (g) 4. Disseminate information about the problems of and methods of preventing child abuse and neglect to the public and to organizations concerned with those problems. In disseminating that information, the board shall emphasize nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect.

Grothman also proposes strict cuts in programs that assist single parents with caring for their children, including childcare. He recommended that children spend no more than 40 hours per week in a childcare setting.

According to an audio video on Fox Radio, he targets mothers, wanting to educate them about “abuse and single parenting”, encouraging them not to leave their abusive husbands and go on welfare, telling them they would risk abusing their children to do so. He states that children in two parent households are at lower risk of abuse and believes women know when they are getting into an abusive situation. He believes women purposely have children out of wedlock and abuse their children. He also believes his bill will become law in two years, due to single mothers abusing their children and having children out of wedlock. He even stated that this is not a good reason for birth control for women and believes all women have access to birth control. He also believes women do not become pregnant by accident. He blames women for the change since the 60s and we should educate women that leaving abusive men and becoming single parents is a mistake.

According to RH Reality Check, Grothman believes single mothers abuse their children, including if they live with the father and not married to him, despite deadbeat fathers.

Indiana Senator Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend), a Republican in Wisconsin’s state senate, thinks that children from single parents are probably victims of child abuse. In his world, a deadbeat dad (Joe Walsh, anyone?) is an American hero whereas the single mom is a disordered, unstable Harlot and should probably be raped by a state doctor. But seriously, Grothman recently authored a controversial bill that directly targets single parents, which the State Senator plans on presenting to the Senate Committee on Public Health, Human Services and Revenue.

A portion of the bill states:

“In promoting those campaigns and materials, the [Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board] shall emphasize nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect.”

Lisa Subeck, Victoria Gutierrez, and Timothy Riley, as well as others, speak out against this bill in a Senate Committee hearing.

Subeck claims to have a background in Head Start, as well as other positions dealing with women's needs before working with NARAL, working with single parents and cannot believe accusing women of child abuse is government’s role, but is not surprised given the War on Women. She gives a list of things that do help in making abuse less of a risk factor and cites abuse where there were two parents, one of which was severe sexual and physical abuse and neglect, stating that the young girl was “kept off the grid” because the mother filled out a form stating the child was homeschooled. She stated marriage is a religious institution and keep certain people from marrying. She suggests giving parents the real tools that prevent child abuse and state the real risk factors that put their children in jeopardy of abuse.

Gutierrez stated that the bill re-victimizes women, such as herself, who leave abusive husbands. She believes Grothman is out of touch with society, especially concerning abused women.

Riley stated that it is an assault the rights of others, such as gay couples and their children. He stated it denies the rights of various groups.

According to Forbes, Grothman opposed sex education in 2010, because he feared teachers would encourage students to become gay.

About Mriana

Mriana is a humanist and the author of "A Source of Misery", who grew up in the Church of God, Anderson Indiana. After she became an adult, she joined the Episcopal Church, but later left the Church and became a humanist. She has two grown sons and raises cats. Mriana raised her sons in the Episcopal Church, but in their teen years, they left the Church and she soon followed. One of her sons became a "Tao Buddhist" and the other a None, creating his own world view. She enjoys writing, reading, science, philosophy, psychology, and other subjects. Mriana is also an animal lover, who cares for their welfare as living beings, who are part of the earth. She is a huge Star Trek fan in a little body.

Oh for crying out loud, this is just stunning. Ignoring the insanity of much of these arguments, are these Republicans also saying that widows or widowers are also contributing to child abuse because their spouse died?

Deborah

http://www.houseofbetazed.com Mriana

Anyone who is a single parent, according to his dude and his focus was very much on women in that Fox Audio Video and amazingly, you'd think the interviewer was on the women's side in this issue, the way he questioned Grothman and all. Grothman's comments were insane!

As if the War on Women were not bad enough already, Senator Glenn Grothman (R-Wisconsin) apparently introduced Senate Bill 507, which would declare single..

WONDER HOW HE FEELS ABOUT ALL THE DEAD BEAT DADS !!! THIS Does Tell me he is taking up for THEM !!! He must be ONE !!!
Regardless of statistics, there are many, many better ways to show that than by saying that single parenthood is child abuse. And as much as Nicole is the exception, there are so many more out there like her. Even two parent families are neglectful and abusive. To link these things as he did is completely absurd. they"re at a disadvantage FOR SURE & Statistics PROVE THAT !
IF You are on Welfare that is CHILD Abuse, Is this Right GLENN ???
SUCH wasting time on BILLS One as this IS NOT What OUR Representatives are paid for !!! SHOULD NOT BE !!!
SINGLE PARENTS Should be commended & Supported by their communities NOT ATTACKED !!!!
So when you divorce and become single parents HE IS SAYING WE ARE ABUSIVE TOO !!! HOW DUMB.

http://www.houseofbetazed.com Mriana

I agree, Betty. I am a single parent or was. My sons are grown now and their father practically abandon them after I divorced their dad. He didn't pay child support or even take his visitations. I was all my sons had growing up, but never once did I hit them or spank them. I just didn't believe in that sort of punishment and for neglect, I think that was on their father, not me, because I was the one who fed, clothed, housed, took them to the ER in the middle of the night for an ear infection or some other illness, etc. Believe me, it wasn't easy and I was grateful for any help I could get, including housing assistance. I got a college education and even worked- not both at the same time, because parenting is a full-time job in and of itself, but while in school, I burnt the candle at both ends, just take care of my sons and make the B average I made. I worked hard to get a degree and take care of my sons, then I worked hard just to work and care for my sons at the same time. It wasn't at all easy, but my older son heard stories from two parent households. He said he was lucky to only get grounded for bad grades, because they got a belt from their father. So how was I more abusive, esp under the rule of the Clintons part of that time, who said, "It takes a village…" and criticized physical discipline?

http://goddiscussion.com BETTY

Mriana, WE HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON.. I am a single parent or was. My son & Daughter are grown now and their father practically abandon them after I divorced their dad. He didn't pay child support or even take his visitations.WOW. I know my children were NOT ABUSED !!! OUR FAMILIES Had so much in common.

Genessa

This guy is not a deadbeat dad…. because no one in their right mind would have a child with him! There are sooooo many other things to consider. Aside from the obvious of single moms who have to leave abuse…. What about moms whose husbands died? Should the widow focus on her children or finding a new husband out of fear of neglect charges? I am thinking she should probably focus on her children for a while….

Or victims of rape who choose to KEEP THE CHILD conceived out of the crime–(This often when conservatives say rape is not the child's fault and keep the baby) But then the mom is being neglectful for being a single mom….. Maybe she should marry the rapist?

Though these may seem extreme, they are real life situations that show you cannot make blanket statements like this. I ran a single moms group for 3 years…. the moms I worked with were NOT taking advantage of this system and most of us didn't even get assistance. Oh, and by the way….. most of the children in daycare over 40 hours a week come from 2-parent homes.

http://www.goddiscussion.com admin

Excellent points, Genessa.

Throughout my life I have worked with abused women, and I have yet to have seen them trying to take advantage of "the system."

Deborah

sheldon

This is beyond stupid. I honestly can't see how the right-wing zealots can be any more ridiculous and yet, every time I think that, they bring forth another example of their apparent limitless idiocy.

For instance: the current push is single parents while the word used is nonmarital so, how long before they would be accusing common-law couples, living outside of religious wedlock, of child abuse?

http://www.goddiscussion.com admin

"This is beyond stupid. I honestly can't see how the right-wing zealots can be any more ridiculous and yet, every time I think that, they bring forth another example of their apparent limitless idiocy."

– I completely agree.
Deborah

Bee

Glenn Grothman has never been married, and has no children. What does he know about parenting? He may still live with his mother. This is yet another bizarre piece of legislation to be proposed in my beloved state of Wisconsin. We are working very hard to reclaim it.

http://www.goddiscussion.com admin

Having grown up in Wisconsin, I find legislation such as Grothman's disturbing and bizarre.

Deborah

KirraLin

This is the media once again lying to the public. The bill sites nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse, not child abuse itself as the article implies. There are many factors which contribute to child abuse, things like stress, lack of time, mental illness, the list goes on. None of these factors are child abuse either. In a single parent home these problems tend to be harder to deal with because there is nobody to share the burdens. I've been looking into child abuse a lot lately and the common recurring theme I keep seeing is a biological parent with a live in companion who is not related to the child, even if that companion is a spouse. The abuse is often perpetrated by the step-parent, or in conjunction with the step parent. Bing a step parent also isn't abuse, but it is often a contributing factor. A child's best opportunity for a stable environment is with two stable, loving, biological parents. Although this bill may be foolish and poorly written, it doesn't make being a single parent illegal.

sheldon

The article in no way implies what you said. The writing is straight-forward. I don't need this article to make up my mind for me and yet, this site is extremely helpful in putting together links and other reference materials in order to make the reader's life a little easier and, I might point out, articles here always include links to cited materials… I, for one, applaud the effort.

This bill would, if passed, make single parents and unwed parents legally recognised factors in child abuse. This is nothing more than a thinly disguised attempt by another zealot to impose his religious values on everyone else. Grothman is just one more religious misogynist from a long line of such thinkers although, with his inclusion of the word non-marital, which is apparently gender neutral, he can now be seen as a misanthrope as well.

"the board shall emphasize nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect."

For the record, I know many single and unwed parents who have managed to bring fine young men and women into adult-hood. Having said that, I also know just as many married couples who could have used some parenting lessons. This bill was not only foolishly written, it was a foolish concept.

Mr. Grothman better be worried about the Milwaukee Archdiocese that just filed bankruptcy over 8000 claims of child sexual abuse by priests and other church authorities in the diocese.
You want to talk seriously about child abuse, Grothman???

I am a single parent and have been for 12 years, my child is an A/B honor roll student and participates in multiple sports throughout the year. He is a good well mannered kid, I sure and the hell dont abuse him, cause his father walked out. Not his fault or mine. I think I do a dam good job and work hard to do it. And he doesn't want for anything.

Crystal Wetherby

This dumb ass can kiss my fat white ASS!! I'm not married to my son's father and he's very well taken care of and loved with a little brother or sister on the way! I don't know if we will ever get married or not but we love our kids!! I've seen some child abuse come from two parent homes more then single parent homes!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/mrollinsloomis Mary Sharene Rollins

Is this perhaps because President Obama was a child of a single mother? Seriously, this man has never been in any situation that he is touting as abuse. He needs to be educated.
Does anyone remember VP Quayle's rant about Murphy Brown?

http://www.facebook.com/mrollinsloomis Mary Sharene Rollins

I called his office and was told that the bill is addressing cohabitation with a single parent wherein children are abused more often than when the parental units in the home are married. They are sending me two studies that has concluded that abuse is more prevalent in these situations than is a home where the parental units are married. I really think it is a matter of reporting errors rather than any thing he is speaking of.

Deborah_B

I'd be interested in those reports. The videos of him speaking seemed to show a different intent in what he was saying, so good for you for calling.